Section 15: Health and Safety Information 239Consumer Information on Wireless PhonesSection 15Consumer Information on Wireless PhonesThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) haspublished a series of Questions and Answers forconsumers relating to radio frequency (RF) exposurefrom wireless phones. The FDA publication includesthe following information:What kinds of phones are the subject of this update?The term wireless phone refers here to hand-heldwireless phones with built-in antennas, often called"cell," "mobile," or "PCS" phones. These types ofwireless phones can expose the user to measurableradio frequency energy (RF) because of the shortdistance between the phone and the user's head. TheseRF exposures are limited by Federal CommunicationsCommission safety guidelines that were developedwith the advice of FDA and other federal health andsafety agencies. When the phone is located at greaterdistances from the user, the exposure to RF isdrastically lower because a person's RF exposuredecreases rapidly with increasing distance from thesource. The so-called "cordless phones," which have abase unit connected to the telephone wiring in a house,typically operate at far lower power levels, and thusproduce RF exposures well within the FCC'scompliance limits.Do wireless phones pose a health hazard?The available scientific evidence does not show thatany health problems are associated with using wirelessphones. There is no proof, however, that wirelessphones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit low
